Ribbed strip for insoles



Jan- 11, 19 49- F. 4E. BERTRAND ETAL. 2,458,500

RIBBED STRIP FOR INSOLES Filed Nov. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventors Frederz'cE Berrana Jan. 11, 1949. F. E. BERTRAND 'ET AL 2,458,500

' ARIBBED STRIP FOR INsoLEsh Filed Nov. 14, 1946 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvenons Ee'dem'c E. Bertrand Alfred '1S'. Clar/c Patented Jan. 11, 1949 RIBBED STRIP FOR INSOLES Frederic E. Bertrand, Lynn, and Alfred S. Clark,

Beverly, Mass., assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 14, 1946, Serial No. 709,674

14 Claims.

struction and economical to make and which will provide a substantial sewing rib on an insole. A further object of the invention is to provide a composite ribbed strip which may be per` manently attached to the insole by cem-ent alone and which, in addition to forming a sewing rib on the insole, is adapted to provide a wide reinforcement for the insole to take the place of van all-over fabric reinforcement commonly used on insoles.

The composite ribbed strip, as hereinillustrated, comprises two relatively narrow .strips of textile or fabri-c material of indefinite length, one strip being coated on one side only with pressure-responsive cement, and the other strip being coated on both sides with such cement. The strip which has cement on both sides `is folded in a manner to form an upstanding two-ply rib with flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the rib to form inner and outer flanges integral with said rib. The other strip is ar-v ranged to cover the two-ply rib and to overlie the inner ange, said vother strip extending a substantial distance beyond said inner flange to provide a wide reinforcement for the insole.

Stitches are inserted through the four plies of the rib adjacent to its base portion, thereby securing the four plies of the rib permanently together, the stitches extending through the fourply rib in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of th-e inner and outer flanges of the cornposite ribbed strip.

After the stitches have been inserted, the rib and said inner and outer flanges are subjected to a shaping or compressing action, preferably with the aid of rolls, which positions the four-ply rib of the composite strip at an acute angle to the inner iiange, that is, the iiange which is covered by the upper strip and thus comprises two plies or layers for a portion of its Width adjacent to the rib. Accordingly, in the completed ribbed strip the four-ply rib will be inclined at an acute angle to the inn-er flange of the strip, this angle, as herein illustrated, preferably being about 60 to said inner flange so that the rib will be inclined inwardly to the plane of the surface of the insole to which it is to be attached.

The bottom surfaces `of the inner and outer 'flanges ofthe completed ribbed strip and the portion of the strip which extends beyond the inner flange are coated with pressure-responsive cement whereby the composite ribbed strip may be permanently attached by pressure alone to anl insole the marginal portion of which is coated with the same kind of cement.

With the above and other objects and features in View, the invention will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings and will thereafter be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the strips which form the composite ribbed strip of the present invention, the lower strip being substantially at and the upper strip being folded over upon itself, the upper surface of the lower strip and both surfaces of the upper strip being coated with cement;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 1 with a marginal portion of the lower strip turned upwardly substantially at right angles to the restl of the strips;

Fig. 3 is a similar perspective view showing the upturned margin of Fig. 2 'bent downwardly against the upper strip to form a four-ply rib portion;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the strips with a row of stitches inserted through the four layers or plies of the rib portion and with the margin of the upper layer of the upper strip turned upwardly substantially at right angles to the plane o1' the strips;

Fig. 5 shows the composite strip of Fig. 4 turned k clockwise substantially with the portions of the upper and lower strips which project to the left in Fig. 4 bent downwardly at an acute angle to the four-ply rib portion;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the completed ribbed strip after it has recovered from the bent condition illustrated in Fig. 5 and has been turned right side up ready to be applied to an insole;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an insole with the ribbed strip of Fig. 6 attached thereto; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section through one side of the insole taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

The composite ribbed strip of the present invention is made up of two relatively narrow strips of textile or fabric material such as canvas or Gem duck, one strip I0,l during the manufacture of the composite strip, forming the lower layer or strip of the article and the other strip l2 forming the upper layer thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the lower strip I is coated on its upper surface with cement C, indicated by stippling, and the upper strip I2 is coated on both surfaces with cement C, the cement being indicated on the exposed surface of the strip I2 by stippling and on the surfaces thereof whi-ch engage each other or the lower strip I0 by a zig-zag line. The cement utilized in making the ribbed strip of the present invention is preferably a pressure-responsive cement, such as rubber cement, latex or other cement comprising synthetic rubber-like materials.

In manufacturing the composite ribbed strip,

the upper strip I2, coated on both sides with v pressure-responsive cement as explained above, is located on the lower strip I0 in a predetermined Widthwise position and is folded over upon itself to form a two-ply layer which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is located substantially centrally of the strip I0. It should be pointed out that both strips are of indefinite length and may be supplied from spools or reels (not shown) in any usual manner and, while the strips are illustrated in the drawings on a greatly enlarged scale, the lower strip I0 is actually about 'M3 of an inch Wide while the upper strip I2 is somewhat narrower or approximately of an inch in width. Since the upper strip I2 is coated on both sides with pressure-responsive cement C, the portion of the strip which engages the cemented surface of the lower strip I0 will adhere temporarily thereto under relatively light pressure and the folded-over portion of the upper strip I 2 will adhere lightly to its lower layer so that the strips will remain temporarily in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The right-hand marginal portion of the lower strip I0, as viewed in Figs. l and 2 and indicated therein by the numeral I4, is turned upwardly substantially at right angles to the remaining portions of the strips as illustrated in Fig. 2. The portion I 4 is then laid over and pressed down flat against the folded strip I2, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a four-ply portion of the combined strips, this portion being indicated in Fig. 3 by the numeral I6 and ultimately forming the rib portion of the composite strip. The marginal portion I4 will adhere lightly to the exposed surface of the upper layer of the folded strip I2 under relatively light pressure, as explained above, by reason of the pressure-responsive cement C on the exposed surface of the strip I2 and on the surface of the portion I4 which engages said exposed surface.

Stitches I8, preferably chain stitches, are inserted through the four-ply rib portion I6 of the combined strips I 0 and I2, as illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby securing the four plies permanently together, the stitches being located adjacent to the left-hand or base portion of the rib I6 as viewed in Fig. 4. The stitches I8 may be composed of thread which is the same color as the fabric strips, for example, white or gray, or they may, as illustrated herein, be of a shade which contrasts with the material of the strips, for example, black or brown, so that they will stand out 4distinctly from the material of the strips and will thus serve as a guide for the operator during the welting or inseaming operation'as will be later explained.

Simultaneously with the insertion of the stitches I8 through the rib I 6, or later if desired,

the margin of the upper layer of the folded stripA I 2 which extends beyond the marginal portion I4, as viewed in Fig. 4, is turned upwardly, as shown in that figure, into a substantially vertical posi-v to be applied to an insole.

tion perpendicular to the plane of the strips, this upturned marginal portion being designated in the drawings by the numeral 20 and ultimately forming a flange on the completed ribbed strip which is integral with the strip I2.

The relatively light adhesion between the folded layers of the upper strip I2 is not suilcient to interfere with the turning up of the margin 20 because no substantial pressure has yet been applied to the combined strips.

The composite strip in the condition illustrated in Fig. 4 is conformed and compressed to bend the portions of the layers I0 and I2 which extend laterally beyond the flange 20 into a relatively sharp or acute angle to the four-ply rib portion I6, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5, this operation, in the manufacture of the composite ribbed strip, involving the rotation of the combined strips clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 4 approximately to the inverted position illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown in the latter figure, the extending portions of the strips I0 and I2 will then be located at a relatively sharp or acute angle to the four-ply rib I6, this angle preferably being about 30 to the adjacent surface of the rib after the compressing operation has been performed.

However, Since the materials forming the composite ribbed strip have a tendency to react and return toward their original shape or position after the shaping operation has been performed, the angle between the bent marginal portions of the strips I0 and I2 and the adjacent surface of the rib I6 will not remain at 30 but the materials will straighten out a limited amount so that the final angle between the rib and said extending marginal portions will be approximately 60, as shown in Fig. 6, when the ribbed strip is returned to a right-side-up position ready In other words, the angle between the four-ply rib I6 and the marginal portions of the strips I0 and I2 which extend laterally of the rib toward the right as viewed in Fig. 6, will be about 60 so that the rib I6 will be inclined at about a 30 angle to the vertical in the completed ribbed strip.

As also illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the composite ribbed strip is shown in its completed condition and ready for attachment to an insole, the extending portion 20 of the strip I2, this strip now forming the lower strip in the composite structure, extends laterally of the fourply rib I6 to form an outer flange which, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, will lie at or adjacent to the edge of the insole to which the strip is attached, while the marginal portions of the strips I0 and I2, which project laterally from the opposite side of the rib I6, form an inner flange for the rib, the margin of the strip I2 forming the lower or base portion of said inner flange and the upper strip I0 completely covering the two-ply rib formed by the strip I2 and overlying the inner flange, said upper strip I0 also extending a substantial distance beyond said inner flange, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, to provide a wide reinforcement for the surface of the insole and thus take the place of an all-over reinforcement'of fabric or other material which is sometimes used on insoles. The wide inner margin of the strip Ill also assists in securing the composite ribbed strip permanently to the surface of the insole and tends to prevent any outward movement of the rib I 6 due to strains which occur during the lasting and inseaming operations or during the subsequent wearing of the shoe.

'As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, thebottom surfaces of the integral flanges 20 and l2 of the completed ribbed strip are coated with pressureresponsive cement C referred to above, and the bottom surface of the portion of the strip lll which extends beyond the inner flange l2 is likewise coated with such cement. Accordingly, the composite ribbed strip is in a condition to adhere immediatelyto the outer surface of an insole when applied thereto under sufficient pressure.

Fig. 7 illustrates the composite ribbed strip of the present invention applied to an insole 24 the marginal portion of the outer surface 26 of which has been previously coated with cement S, preferably the same kind of pressure-responsive .cement as that which was used on the ribbed strip. As shown in Fig. 7, the outer flange of the composite strip is located in a predetermined position relatively to the edge portion of the insole, the outer edge of this flange at the forepart of the insole being located substantially flush with the edge of the insole and, at the shank portion of the insole, being spaced inwardly a short distance from the edge of the insole in the usual manner. The portion of the upper strip Ill which projects inwardly beyond the integral inner flange I2 is pressed firmly against the body portion of the insole, as illustrated in Fig. 8, so that it seals the inner flange l2 against the insole body, thus insuring a strong permanent bond between the composite strip and the surface of the insole. Moreover, the inner flange of the completed' ribbed, strip, as shown in Fig. 8, is composed of two thicknesses of material for about half its width adjacent to the inclined rib I6 which construction assists materially in supporting the inclined rib against bending laterally during the lasting and welting operations. The inclination of the four-ply rib I6 inwardly at, an acute angle relatively to the two-ply portion of the inner flange provides a definite groove or channel at the inner side of the rib for receiving the welt guide of a welting machine during the inseaming operation. Moreover, if the stitches I8 are of a color which contrasts distinctly with the material of the rib, they will be visible and thus will serve as a guide whereby the operator can gage the position in which the inseam is being sewn and can locate the inseam below the stitches I8 and well down toward the base of the rib, thereby insuring a good welting operation.

Although the four-ply rib I6 of the present ribbed strip is shown in Figs. 6 and 8 as being relatively thick widthwise as compared with the thicknesses of the insole 24 or the inner and outer flanges of the strip, the rib is nevertheless flexible to a considerable degree because it is composed entirely of fabric material and contains no special stiifening materials of any kind so that the rib will bend or flex laterally to a certain extent under sufficient pressure while at the same time will be stiff and rigid enough to provide a firm shoulder or abutment against which to secure the shoe upper during the lasting and inseaming or welting operation. The flexible character of the rib I6 tends to increase the flexibility of the insole as a whole over insoles which have ribbed strips or tape ribs attached thereto in which the rib is so stiff and rigid that it cannot be bent inwardly or outwardly even a small amount except under relatively heavy pressure. In this latter construction, bending of the stiff rib inwardly or outwardly during the lasting or inseaming operations sometimes pulls the base or flange portions of the strip away from the insole body and permits the inseaming stitches to pass completely under the rib which, of course, results in a poor inseaming operation. Such a condition cannot occur with the present construction, however, because the rib I6 of the strip will flex or bend laterally under sufficient pressure and will thus have no tendency to lift or pull the flanges away from their adhesive attachment to the outer sur-face of the insole, particularly the portions of the flanges directly below therib. On the other hand, as indicated above, the four-ply rib I6, supported at its inner side by the two-ply inner flange formed by the strips l0 and l2, provides an excellent abutment or shoulder against which to secure the upper during the lasting and inseaming operations.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. As an article of manufacture, a rib-bed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising a single strip folded to form an upstanding rib with integral flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the rib, and another strip completely covering both sides of the rib and overlying only one of said flanges.

2. As an article of manufacture, a composite strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising an integral strip of flexible material folded upon itself to form a two-ply rib with flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the base of the rib, and another strip of flexible mate-rial surrounding the two-ply rib including both sides thereof to form a four-ply rib, said other strip also overlying one of said flanges to produce a two-ply flange at one side only of the rib.

3. As `an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed stri-p adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising a single strip of indefinite length folded upon itself widthwise to form an upstanding rib with flanges integral with the rib projecting laterally fro-m opposite sides :of the base of the rib, and another strip completely covering both sides of the rib and overlying only one of said flanges, said other strip also extending a substantial distance beyond said flange.

4. As an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ri'bs thereon comprising an integral strip -folded upon itself to form an upstanding two-ply rib with unfolded portions ,of

the strip projecting laterally from opposite sides of the base of the rib to form inner and outer flanges integral with said rib, and another integral `strip completely surrounding :the two-ply rib to form a four-ply rib, said other strip overlying the inner flange .to form a two-ply flange at the inner side of the rib.

5. As an article of manufacture, a composite stripadapted for attachment to insoles to provide -sewing ribs thereon, said strip being pro-y vided with a four-ply upstanding rib, a singleply flange extending laterally from one side of the base of the rib, and a two-ply flange extending laterally from the opposite side of said base.

6. As an article of manufacture, a composite yribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon, said strip being provided with a four-ply upstanding rib, a singleply outer flange, a two-ply inner flange, and a 7 single-'ply layer extending inwardlya' substantial distance beyond said inner ange.

7. As an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon 4comprising a single strip of indefinite length folded to form anupstanding rib withintegral flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the base of the rib, another strip completely covering both sides of the rib and overlying only one of said flanges, and means fastening said other strip permanently to the rst-named strip.

8. As an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ri-bs thereon comprising a strip folded upon itself widthwise to form a .two-ply rib with flanges integral with the .rib projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof, another strip completely covering the two-ply rib to form a four-ply rib and overlying one of said flanges to form a two-ply iiange at one side lonly of the rib, and stitches passing through the four plies of the rib for holding said plies permanently together.

9. As an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising a single strip of fabric material of indefinite length folded centrally to form an upstanding two-ply rib with unfolded porti-ons of the strip projecting laiterally from opposite sides of the -base of the -rib to form inner and outer flanges integral with the rib, said flanges being substantially equal in width, another strip of fabric material completely covering the two-ply rib to form a four-ply rib and overlying said inner flange, said other strip extending a substantial distance beyond said inner flange to provide a wide reinforcement for the insole, and stitches passing through the fourply rib adjacent to its base for securing the four plies of the rib permanently together.

10. As an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising a strip of flexible material folded upon itself to form a two-ply rib with single-ply integral flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the base of said rib, another strip of exible material covering both sides of the two-ply rib to form a fourply rib, said other strip overlying only one of said flanges to form a two-ply flange at one side of the rib, and stitches passing through the four plies ofthe rib adjacent to said flanges for securing said plies permanently together, said stitches being of a color which contrasts with the material of the strips and thereby renders the stitches visible in the completed ribbed strip.

11. Aslan article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising an integral strip folded upon itself widthwise to form an upstanding two-ply rib with integral flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the base thereof, and another strip completely covering both sides of said two-ply rib to form a four-ply 8 rib, said other strip overlying only one of said anges to form a two-ply flange at one side only of the rib, said four-ply rib being inclined at an acute angle to said two-ply flange.

12. As an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising a strip' folded upon itself to form an upstanding rib with iianges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the base of the rib, and another strip completely surrounding said rib and overlying only one of said fianges to form a two-ply flange at one side of the rib, said other strip extending a substantial distance beyond said two-ply iiange, the bottom surfaces of said flanges and the portion of said other strip which extends beyond the two-ply iiange having a coating of cement thereon.

13. As an article of manufacture, a composite ribbed strip adapted for attachment to insoles-to provide sewing ribs thereon comprising a strip of fabric material folded widthwise to form a twoply rib with unfolded portions of the strip pro jecting laterally from opposite sides of the base of the rib to form inner and outer iianges integral with the rib, another strip of fabric material come pletely covering said rib to form a four-ply rib, said other strip overlying the inner flange and extending a substantial distance beyond said inner flange, means securing said other strip permanently to the first-named strip, and cement on the bottom surfaces of said inner and outer fia-tiges and the portion of said other strip extending be yond said inner flange for securing the composite ribbed strip permanently to the surface of the insole.

14.'As an article of manufacture, a composite fabric strip of indefinite length adapted for attachment to insoles to provide sewing ribs thereon, said strip being provided with a four-ply upstanding rib, a single-ply outer iiange, and a two-ply inner viiange, the upper layer of said inner flange extending a substantial distance beyond its lower layer, said four-ply rib being inclined at an acute angle to said inner a'nge, fastenings passing through the four plies of said rib adjacent to its base and in a direction' substantially parallel to the plane of said flanges', and cement on the bottom surfaces of said anges and the portion of said upper layer which extends beyond said inner flange for securing the composite strip to the body of an-insole.

, FREDERIC E. BERTRAND.

ALFRED S. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,147,787 Carson July 27, 1915 1,389,356 Hess Aug. 30, 1921- 2,381,951 Griswold Aug. 14, 1945 

